24. A Deadly Fight

Xaren's eyes gleamed with malevolence as he shot a dark bolt of energy at Eryndor and Krog. The duo dodged the attack by mere inches, their movements swift and desperate. But Xaren was relentless, summoning a group of skeletons to attack them.

Eryndor unsheathed his sword, its blade shimmering in the dim light. Krog drew his dagger, its edge glinting with a deadly sheen. Together, they charged into the fray, slicing through the skeletons with ease. But Xaren was not to be underestimated. He had a plan, and it was already in motion.

As the skeletons distracted Eryndor and Krog, Xaren cast a higher magic spell, one that would drain the life force from his enemies. The air seemed to vibrate with dark energy as he spoke the words of the incantation. Krog felt a sudden surge of weakness, his limbs trembling beneath him, his movements slowing as he struggled to maintain his footing.

Seizing the opportunity, Xaren shot another bolt of dark energy towards Krog. The bolt hurtled through the air, its trajectory unerring as it struck Krog's right leg with a sickening crunch. Krog's leg buckled beneath him, his body crashing to the ground as he became immobile.

Eryndor's eyes widened in horror as he took in Krog's situation. His subordinate was helpless, unable to defend himself against Xaren's attacks. Without hesitation, Eryndor sprinted towards Krog, his sword at the ready as he tried to shield his friend from further harm.

But Xaren was relentless, his powers growing stronger with each passing moment. As Eryndor approached, Xaren summoned two undead giants to attack him. The giants were massive, their bodies a twisted mass of rotting flesh and bone as they lurched towards Eryndor with jerky, unnatural movements.

Only an Advanced Lich or higher-level undead creature could summon such powerful minions, and Xaren's ability to do so was a testament to his formidable magical abilities.

The hierarchy of Liches is a fascinating and complex one, with each level representing a significant increase in power and magical abilities.

Lich's evolution stages

It begins with the humble skeleton, which can eventually become a Lich through a process of dark magic and necromancy. As a Lich, it can start using magic and simple elemental and dark spells, summoning normal skeletons to do its bidding.

As the Lich grows in power and experience, it can become an Intermediate Lich, capable of performing intermediate spells and summoning zombies to join its undead army. This marks a significant increase in power, as the Lich can now create a low-level undead army to do its bidding.

The next level is the Advanced Lich, which is even more powerful and can perform advanced magic spells. It can summon undead giants, create a mid-level undead army, and wield significant magical power.

Above the Advanced Lich is the Lich Lord, which can summon a powerful high-level undead army and performed higher-level magic spells. It can also summon higher undead beings, such as vampires, to join its ranks.

The highest levels of Liches are the Lich King and Demi Lich, which possess immense power and magical abilities. They are capable of wielding dark magic on a massive scale and can summon entire armies of undead to do their bidding.

Continuing to the current situation

As the battle raged on, Eryndor found himself facing off against the two undead giants. Their massive bodies and powerful blows made them formidable opponents, but Eryndor was determined to protect Krog. He fought valiantly, his sword slicing through the air as he dodged and weaved between the giants' attacks.

Meanwhile, Xaren took advantage of the distraction to slip past Eryndor and make his way towards Krog. The lich's eyes gleamed with malevolence as he raised his claws, ready to strike. Krog, still weakened from the energy drain, could only defend himself with his dagger. He managed to block Xaren's initial attack, but the lich's follow-up kick was too powerful. Krog's stomach was struck with a loud thud, and he was sent flying into a nearby tree.

Krog's body crashed into the tree trunk, and he slid to the ground, coughing up blood. His situation was dire, and Eryndor knew he had to act fast. With a fierce cry, Eryndor charged his sword with all his might and struck at the two undead giants. The blade bit deep into their flesh, and they let out a deafening roar as they stumbled backwards. Eryndor took advantage of the momentary distraction to strike again, and this time, his sword sliced through the giants' bodies, killing them instantly.

As the giants collapsed to the ground, Eryndor turned his attention to Krog. He threw a bone shield token towards his friend, and the shield materialized just in time to block Xaren's next attack. The lich's claws struck the shield with a loud crack, but it held firm, giving Eryndor the time he needed to reach Krog's side.

Eryndor rushed towards Krog, his heart racing with worry. He could see that his subordinate was badly hurt, and he knew he had to act fast to save him. As he reached Krog's side, he threw another token, this one unleashing a necrotic blast at Xaren. The lich dodged the attack with ease, but he retreated a little distance, giving Eryndor and Krog some breathing room.

For a moment, the two combatants stood there, locked in a tense standoff. Eryndor's chest heaved with exertion, and Krog's labored breathing was the only sound he could hear. Xaren, on the other hand, seemed to be savoring the moment.

Xaren's laughter echoed through the air, "You won't be leaving alive today," the lich threatened, his eyes glinting with malevolence. "Unless, of course, you tell me where you found that sword."

Eryndor's mind racing, he wondered why Xaren was so fixated on the sword. He decided to play it coy, hoping to stall for time. "I'm not telling you anything," he said, trying to sound braver than he felt.

But as he glanced back at Krog, who was writhing in pain behind him, Eryndor's resolve began to crumble. He knew he had to do something to save his friend, even if it meant revealing the sword's origins. "Fine," he said, trying to sound nonchalant. "I found it in a cave."

Xaren's eyes narrowed. "Which cave?" he demanded. "Where?"

Eryndor hesitated, trying to think of a way to reveal as little as possible. But Xaren's gaze kept drifting back to Krog, and Eryndor knew he had to act fast. "I found it in a cave in the living world," he said finally. "I stumbled upon an unprotected treasure trove, and there was an ancient teleportation spell that brought me here."

Xaren's face went white with rage. "You scoundrel," he spat. "You had the guts to go into my brother's lair, steal his treasures, and use his one-way ticket of escape?" He looked like he was about to explode with fury.

Eryndor knew he had to try and placate Xaren, at least for Krog's sake. "I've answered your questions," he said, trying to sound calm. "Please, just let us go." But Xaren's response was an evil laugh.

Suddenly Xaren's laughter died on his lips as he felt a powerful presence bearing down on him. He seemed to sense that he was in grave danger, and without hesitation, he activated a token and teleported away.

As the lich disappeared, Eryndor was left standing there, feeling a mix of relief and confusion.

Xaren appeared in his lair, his face still slick with sweat as he caught his breath. He had narrowly escaped death. He couldn't believe how close he had come to being killed by the Demoness.

"That hag is very dangerous," he muttered to himself, his eyes scanning the shadows of his lair as if searching for any signs of hidden threats. He had underestimated her, and it had almost cost him his life.

But Xaren's thoughts were also filled with a sense of relief. He had made a top-quality teleportation token, one that had allowed him to escape certain death. It had been a wise investment, and he was grateful for his own foresight.